The area of modern Acquapendente was settled by Etruscans and Roman times, as findings have showed. The name of the city, meaning Pending Water, stems from the presence of several small waterfalls forming the Paglia, a stream setting the boundary between Lazio and Tuscany, although the border was set a few miles to the north of the river.
in 1449 Acquapendente became an independent town within the Papal State. The settlement flourished after the destruction of Castro, the town gained a Bishop Palace and it increased the importance of city to the Church and the Pope. In 1535 Hierolimus Fabrici, a famous anatomist, was born in Acquapendente.
Main sights are the Watch Tower, the only remained of the Barbarossa Castle of 11th century, the Julia de Jacopo Tower, the Cathedral of San Sepolcro, that contains a stone from Gerusalemme wet by Jesus blood, Chiesa di San Francesco dedicated to the Saint, although it's been built before, the Church of Saint Augustine (16th century).

The most significant monument in Acquapendente is the Cathedral of San Sepolcro. The cathedral was constructed around the year 1000 over the votive chapel that Matilda of Westphalia ordered built with the same dimensions as Christ's sepulchre. Consecrated in 1149 and reconstructed several times, it was given the title of cathedral in 1649. Following damage during World War II, much of it was rebuilt based on the plans of Vincenzo Fasolo.Inside the cathedral is the noteworthy altarpiece in the right transept, a work in enamelled terracotta by Jacopo Beneventano (1522) portraying the Eternal Father worshipped by angels; the wooden choir (1685-1688) in the apse is attributed to artist Matteo Tedesco. The chapel of St. Hermes venerates the memory of the patron saint, depicted by a wax statue. There is a lovely fourteenth-century baptismal font under the presbytery, between the two entry stairs. Of great interest is also the crypt of nine naves supported by 22 columns, below which there is a local (sacellum) preserving the column of Christ's flagellation and parts of the Jerusalem tribunal.

The tower of Julia di Jacopo, located near the church, marks the remains of the fortress built by Arrigo IV ( currently used as a cultural and welcome centre). The clock tower (also known as Barbarossa's tower) in the uppermost part of town was part of the imperial castle that was held by the Swabians for many years.
The Chiesa di San Francesco, built in 1149, houses many paintings and frescoes, a finely carved Gothic-style portal and inside an invaluable wooden crucifix of the 13th century.
The Pieve di Santa Vittoria with a wooden statue of the della Madonna del Fiore, made according to traditions form the chestnut tree of the miracle. Every third Sunday of May there is the Festa dei Pugnaloni to celebrate the Festa della Madonna del Fiore. [read more]

Inside the Cattedrale del Santo Sepolcro, built in the 11th-12th century, but later modified in Baroque style, there is an amazing crypt (Cripta) of the 10th century of nine aisles, supported by 22 stone columns with rich capitals, built on a previous chapel of the same size than that of the Holy Sepulchre. This is one of the most important Romanesque crypts in Italy and dates back to the second half of the tenth century when Acquapendente, situated on the Via Francigena, became a stopping place for pilgrims heading to Rome.

Museo del Fiore, 5 Km from the town, hosted in an ancient farmhouse called Casale Giardino. The museum visit proceeds as a narration through pictures, panels, miniatures and computer systems, with also a lab to create little flower models. A section is also devoted to the history behind the tradition of the Pugnaloni.
In remembrance of this much longed for rebellion, the community decreed to have a big festival every year in the middle of May. Festa dei Pugnaloni is a festival of pugnaloni: beautiful mosaics made out of petals, flowers and leaves, a folklore element of the festival of the Madonna del Fiore (Madonna of the Flower).

The Monte Rufeno Natural Reserve, 2 km north to the city, has secular woods housing wildlife including, among the others, boars, eagle owls, turtles and beech martens. It starts at an altitude of 200 meters above sea level (at the Paglia river) and goes up to an altitude of 700 meters (Mount Rufeno).

Acquapendente is famous for the Festa dei Pugnaloni. The Festa dei Pugnaloni is a festival which takes place in the Lazio region of Italy each May. In preparation for the festival, the local community constructs banners with scenes made entirely of flower petals and other natural materials. Competition between groups of banner-makers is fierce and there is great excitement when the banners are revealed at festival time. This is how the liberation, with the help of the Pontifical Army, from Frederic I Barbarossa is commemorated. [read more]

Comune Montefiascone | Piazza Largo Plebiscito - Montefiascone

Torre Alfina and Trevinano are frazioni of Acquapendente.

Edward Cahen never managed to see the castle finished but he wanted to be buried, in a mausoleum built in the same neo-Gothic style as the castle, covered in basalt and refined with travertine that was in the forest-garden, that he had made accessible with paths constructed among the rocks, of the Sasseto.

Rodolfo Teofilo, Edward's son, completed this work by furnishing the castle with great refinement and style and by creating a large garden above the forest.

This dream was interrupted by the advent of Nazism, racial laws and then by the war. In fact the castle first became the headquarters of the Germans and then was plundered.

The marquis fled and died in Paris, leaving everything to Urbano Papilloud, the butler, who lived sporadically in Torre Alfina and finally moved to Geneva with his wife.

The Monte Rufeno Natural Reserve, established in 1983, is part of the protected areas system of Lazio. It covers a surface of 2.892 hectares in, at the border with Umbria and Tuscany.

Itineraries